WTMA is Charleston, South Carolina's second-oldest AM radio station (WCSC was the first). WTMA is the only AM radio station in Charleston to have its original call letters. The call letters WTMA don't officially stand for anything; they were just assigned at random by the Federal Communications Commission.
The station layout.
WTMA signed on June 15, 1939. During radio's "golden age" WTMA was an NBC affiliate and thus carried much of NBC's slate of network programming. Since 1989, WTMA has been Charleston's leading news/talk station. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, WTMA was THE Top 40 station in Charleston. From the early 1960s through 1981, WTMA aired a Top 40 format affiliated with ABC Radio News.
Control Room, 1973.
But like many other AM Radio Top 40 stations, it switched to an adult contemporary format in the early 80s until 1986 when FM became more popular for music. It tried a couple different formats including an R&B-flavored oldies format and country music. Then on June 1, 1989, it switched to its current news/talk format. WTMA has since then maintained its talk radio format.
Jack Gale was one of the most popular morning men in WTMA's history. He was hired as both on air talent and Program Director in 1955, at a time the station was playing artists like Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Patti Paige. Gale introduced Charleston listeners to Rock and Roll with a program that aired on Friday and Saturday nights called "The Hound Dog", modeled after a program created by Alan Freed in Cleveland featuring the likes of Fats Domino and the Drifters. Gale also opened his own local record store by the same name.
Folly Beach Pier
During the summer Jack would rent the Folly Beach Pier in Charleston, and bring in acts including Pat Boone and Connie Francis, drawing large crowds and expanding his listening audience. Gale's next stop would be in Baltimore at WITH and WWIN from 1957 to 1963.
Slogans for the station over the years have included "Radio Charleston" "TMA" "The Mighty TMA" "Tiger Radio" "Music Radio" "Talk Radio" "News Talk" and "The Big Talker".
WHO WORKED AT WTMA? Here is the list: Bob Scott, Bobby Dee, Doug Randall, Jack Gale, John Trenton, Booby Nash, Steve Canyon, Danny Knox, Terry Allen, Dan Moon, Jim Diamond, Charlie Byrd Lindsay, Robin Wayne Anderson, Bob McLean, Bob Riley, Keith Nichols, Kirk Varner, John Burwell, Lee Richards, Gery London, Richard Todd and Mad Dog Morgan.
